Brush and dispensing cabinet



Sept. 15, 1953 E. R. LINDSAY I BRUSH AND DISPENSING CABINET Filed Oct.19, 1948 BT F IOI

FIG. 6.

I35 5 REED ll/V0514): INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRUSH AND DISPENSINGCABINET Ezra Reed Lindsay, Salt Lake City, Utah Application October 19,1948, Serial No. 55,399

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a dispensing type cabinet and moreparticularly to a dispensing container which is adapted for holding avariety of articles and materials, such as tooth brushes, dentifrices,and/ or analogous toilet articles. The invention is applicable to manyuses, but it is particularly suitable for mounting on a wall or othersupporting surface for holding toilet articles, for protecting them fromunsanitary contact or conditions, and for dispensing bulk materials insmall controllable quantities and without waste.

In the past, many types of racks, holders, and cabinets have beenproposed and used for retaining toothbrushes, dentifrices, cream, paste,soap, and the like, and numerous such devices are used in homes,particularly in bathrooms, powder rooms, kitchens, and the like. It isobviously desirable that articles such as toothbrushes, usedindividually, be mounted separately and individually, and many types ofracks have been proposed for this purpose. It is desirable that bulkmaterials, such as toothpowder, toothpaste, shaving cream, or lathersoaps, and the like, be readily available, handy, and yet packaged so asto avoid spilling, dispensing of excessive quantities, access tomoisture or loss of moisture, free contact with the air being usuallyobjectionable with these latter materials.

Commercial tubes, cans, and the like, which are commonly provided forsoaps, creams, dentifrices, and the like, are commonly designed fordispensing and are often but not always satisfactory. They arefrequently deficient when they must be used by children or other personswho are inclined to be careless in their use. There appears to he needfor a simple apparatus which will dispense measured quantities ofpowder, or controllable quantities of toothpaste, shaving soap, etc.,without spilling. Such apparatus should be easily operated, firmlysupported in a convenient location, and it should be constructed so asto preserve and keep clean and sanitary the various articles or productscontained therein or held thereby.

Hence an object of the present invention is to provide an attractive,convenient holding cabinet or rack for toilet articles. A further objectis to combine with such a holding cabinet or rack structure a simple andconvenient dispensing apparatus for bulk products, preferably capable ofdispensing both loose, pulverulent material and wet plastic or pastelike material. A further object is to combine with a rack or holder fortoilet articles or the like, means for metering or dispensing uniformquantities of loose bulk material such as toothpowder, soap powder, orthe like. Still another object is to combine with an article rack orholder a means for dispensing moist plastic bulk material, such astoothpaste, soft soap, or the like, in such a manner that the materialis normally protected against undue exposure to the atmosphere withresultant excessive drying and/or hardening. It is desirable that suchmaterials be quickly available when needed and this invention includesimproved means both for protecting them and for dispensing them withoutwaste.

Additional objects are to hold separate from each other and out ofcontact with dust or other unsanitary matter articles which are usedindividually such as toothbrushes and analogous toilet articles, tomount these in a manner that they are always identifiable and'distinguishable though protected, to support the holding and dispensingmechanisms firmly and yet in a manner to permit easy and quick removalfrom a wall or other support, and in general to provide additionalconveniences in an attractive structure of increased utility. Stillother objects will become apparent as this description proceeds.Therefore, reference will next be had to the accompanying drawing,wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of thisinvention, parts being broken away to show the construction moreclearly;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure of Fig. 1, otherparts being broken away in this figure to show additional details;

Fig. 3 is a detail view, with parts broken away, showing in particularthe inner construction of means for dispensing loose pulverulent orgranular material, such dispersing means forming a part of theinvention;

Fig. 4 is a detail view of means for controlling and cutting off theflow of moist plastic material as dispensed from means shown at the leftof Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view with certain parts omitted takensubstantially along the line 5-5 of Figs. 1 and 2, showing also a toiletarticle (toothbrush) in place in the holder with the bristles thereofprotected from contact with other articles or foreign elements;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in elevation of a bracket for mounting theassembly of Figs. 1 and 2 on a suitable support such as a vertical wallsurface;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational View of the same element, taken from theleft of Fig. 6; and

Fig. 8 is a top plan view of the element of Figs.

6 and 7, showing fragmentarily the cabinet structure of this inventionmounted thereon in a suitable fashion.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, the structure comprises a hollow bodymember ID, formed for example by molding a su'table plastic materialsuch as polystyrene, vinyl resin, methacrylate resin, phenolformaldehyde condensation resin or the like. The material used may beselected from a wide variety of sources, wood, metal, or glass beinguseful in lieu of plastic, if desired. It is advantageous, however, forsome purposes, to use a material which is translucent, preferablytransparent, so that articles and materials in the cabinet may bevisible. This adds to the convenience and attractiveness of thestructure, but is not always essential.

As shown, the body iii is preferably of one-piece construction, but itmay be made in several parts if desired. Unitary construction isnormally preferred for simplicity and, as herein shown, the bodyItcomprises a. rear wall structureI I, a front wallstructure l3, abottom wall I5, and hollow cylindrical end members I] and I9,respectively. The body it comprises a number of hollow sections orcompartments 2|, 23, 25, 21, and 29, in addition to the cylinders.Theseare preferably entirely separate from each other, though they maybe only partially separated if desired. As shown in Fig. l, partitionelements 3|, 33, 35 and are provided between the compartments. Thebottom wall i5 contains a series of openings 39 of a suitable size, onebelow and opposite each of the compartments 2|;23, etc. .These areparticularly useful when the device is designed to holdtoothbrushesthese openings 39 being of such dimensions that the'artiolessuch as toothbrushes may be easily inserted but retained by theresistance of the bristles, for example.

The body member E8 is provided with a suitable cover t i, madepreferably of the same material as the body It, though a contrastingmaterial may be used if desired. The cover H has a downturned flange t3formed integrally therewith and shaped to fit closely about the upperedge portion of'the main body it. The body'may be formed withindentations between the hollowed sections and opposite some or all ofthe partitions 3|, 33, 35 and 31. These are indicated at SI, 53, E5 andEl, respectively, on the front of Fig. 2. Corresponding indentations maybe formed in the rear wall ii of the body, as indicated at 6|, 63, .65and I31. The cover is preferably formed to fit closely into theseindentations, although that is not always necessary.

To retain the cover in place, the front and rear wall members Ii and i3of the body It are provided with detent means, such as the holes orindentations ll, l2, l3, and i i, respectively. The cover member hascorresponding bosses I5 and it on the front flange portion :23. Similarelements TI and i8 are provided on the rear flange portion of the cover.These frictionally engage the indentations II, l2, l3 and I l so astoretain the cover in place. By springing the flanges slightly, the lidmay be removed, but the detent means normally hold it securely in placeand prevent its accidental displacement. See especially Fig. 5.

The cabinet'assembly, as previously indicated, includes means fordispensing pulverulent material, for example toothpowder, soap powder,or the like. As shown herein,-such means may consist of a container Si,cylindrical in form, formed in the part I9 previously mentioned which ispart of the assembly. The cylindrical container 8|, as best shown in 3,.has an opening 83 of appropriate size in the bottom wall I5. A starwheel dispensing element 85 is rotatably mounted, being fixed to orintegral with a vertical shaft member 31 which projects through asuitable opening 89 in the cover member 4| (Fig. 2). The upper part ofthe shaft Si! is preferably knurled as indicated at 9|, so that it maybe rotated with the gers. A guard member 92 comprises-a fiat portion 9?;which overlies a part of the star wheel member 93 also comprising an upturned flange 94 which may be secured in any suitable manner, asbyadhesive, to the inner wall of the cylindrical member 8|. With thisconstruction none of the contents of the container BI will pass outthrough opening 83 except when the dispensing star wheel 85 is rotatedby means of shaft 81.

A receiving cup 95 may be provided, to catch powder dispensed fromcontainer 8|. As shown in Fig. .2, the cup 95 is in the form of ashallow dish having a bottom 9&5, upturned circumferential side wall 9?,and a pair of upstanding arms 88, preferably integral with side wall'91. Each arm has a small lateral projection 99 thereon, adapted toengage in an opening Iilil formed in a down turned skirt portion i9| ofthe cylindrical wall Is. Oneof these openings is shown in Fig. 3. Thearmsfiii are'resilient so that they may be sprung toward each other fordetaching the detent lugsQQ from openings I60.

Dispensing means are provided also for moist plastic material such aspaste, shaving soap, or the like. As herein shown, these means comprisea hollow receptacle I02, formed in element E1 which preferably isintegral with'the front and rear wall members ii and I3, the receptaclebeing of a suitable shape and capacity. In the embodiment shown, themember I92 is cylindrical and is fitted with a piston likeplunger Hi3which is vertically movable. Piston 563 has a stem I05 which projectsthrough an opening I01 in the cover member 4|.

At the bottom of the receptacle I02 an opening 5 I is provided throughthe side wall I! from which the contents of the receptacle may be dis-'pensed. 'The bottom wall it also is provided with a channel or recess Iit so that the contents may still be dispensed when the container isnearly empty.

In order 'to provide a clean out ch for the paste or other soft materialdispensed from the container 162, it is desirable to provide some meansfor cutting off the body which emerges through opening i I Such means,as shown herein, comprise a vertically slidable knife member I I5constrained for movement in a vertical plane by overhanging guide fiangeelements I H, one of which is shown in Fig. 2, the other being cut awayto show the knife construction in the sectional view. See Fig. 4. Theknife is urged downwardly by means of a spring IIB which operates on aplunger I2| which is preferably integral with the knife. The plunger I3|projects upwardly from the upper surface of a laterally extending fingerpiece I23 which is also formed integrally with or rigidly attached tothe knife member H5.

To use the paste or soap dispenser the operator raises the knife M5 bylifting finger piece I23 so as to expose the opening III. At the sametime he presses down on the plunger or stem I85 so as to force thematerial through the opening. The elements I23 and H35 are preferably ofsuch size and location that .they may conveniently be operatedsimultaneously with one hand. When sufiicient material has been forcedout through the opening H l the knife H5 is released. A spring iii)mounted in a housing I20 formed in or attached to Wall element I Iforces the knife down to cut off the feed and also to close the opening13 i i and. prevent evaporation or drying of the material in receptacleI 02. It will be understood that the parts are so proportioned andfitted with such accuracy that the material may be dispensed withaccurate control and is prevented from losing its moisture appreciablyduring storage.

For mounting the dispenser on a wall or like vertical support, bracketmeans may be provided which frictionally engage and securely hold thedispenser cabinet through cooperating means formed thereon. Such bracketmeans may comprise a pair of bracket elements such as the single elementof Figs. 6, 7 and 8. As shown, the member Isl which is designed forattachment to a wall surface is provided with a T-section tongue I33adapted to fit within opposed tapered flanges !95 formed integrally withor attached to the rear wall II of the dispenser or container I0.Brackets I3! may be formed with openings I37 for screws or other wallfastenings and may be permanently attached to the wall. The dispenserunit is attached by simply sliding the tapered flanges I 35 over thetongue elements I33 of the pair of brackets 13!, the relationship beingas generally shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. Fig. 8 shows in sectionhow the flanges I35 overlie the tongue !33. The base of the T element isnarrowest at its upper end and the space between the flange elements isarranged to correspond in dimensions so that the assembly fits snuglyand tightly but may readily be removed by lifting firmly. The degree oftaper should be such that the parts can be readily separated but willhold firmly against unintentional separation due to slight or moderatejarring.

From the foregoing, it is believed that the operation and constructionof the improved device will be clear. Tooth brushes may be inserted ineach of the compartments 2I, 23, 25, 27, and 29. The number ofcompartments may be more or less as desired. Articles other than toothbrushes may be inserted instead. Because the wall I3 is preferablytransparent it is easy to identify a particular brush, assuming they arediiferent in type or color. By the holding means described the brushbristles are protected against dust and against accidental contact withmeans which might contaminate, but they are all mounted so that they maybe dried after use by the circulation of air around them.

The powder dispenser 8I, 83, etc, meters out a measured quantity ofmaterial with each passage of an arm of the star wheel 85 past theopening 93. Falling of additional powder through the opening isprevented by the shield 93. The dispensed powder falls into thedetachable cup 95 which catches all of it and holds it. When toothpowder is dispensed the tooth brush may be dipped into the powder or, ifdesired, the cup may be detached, and may be rinsed and replaced afteruse.

The paste or moist soap dispenser II operates in the manner previouslydescribed. A suitable quantity of material, as measured by the length ofthe extruded portion, may be forced out through opening III by pressingon the plunger 6 head I05. The dispensed part is then cut off cleanlyand the opening III is closed substantially air tight by releasing thefinger piece I23 and permitting the spring II9 to force the knife downuntil the finger piece rests upon the upper ends of the guide flangesII1.

From the foregoing it will be understood that there have been combinedin a novel structure and in a unitary device means for holding anddispensing toilet articles and materials in a manner that is clean andconvenient. By the use of transparent materials the contents of allparts are plainly visible. Suitable plastic materials may be molded toform all the compartments of the main body in a single piece and theother parts, preferably made of the same material, may be attached bysuitable adhesive or by other fastenings. Thus the parts 93, Ill, I20,and I35 may be molded integrally with the body or may be attached afterseparate manufacture. The lid or cover 4| is preferably of one piece.The rotary metering device, star wheel and its stem 07, may be made inone piece or two, and the same is true of the plunger I03 and its shaftor stem I05.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of thisinvention. Many uses other than those described also will be apparentand it is not intended to limit the invention to the particularmodification or the particular uses mentioned above except insofar aswill be required by the limitations in the following claim.

What is claimed is:

In a device of the character described, the combination of acompartmented body member of plastic material, said body membercomprising a substantially continuous outer wall member and transversepartition elements integral therewith to form a pair of substantiallyidentical cylindrical end compartments and a series of intermediatebrush compartments of rectangular cross-section and an integral bottomwall enclosing a portion only of each of said brush compartments so asto hold a brush or the like in a restricted opening, a unitary removablecover for said body adapted to fit said outer wall member closely andenclose the top part of all said compartments, resilient detent meanscooperating with each other on said body member and on said cover forholding said cover on said body member, and dispensing means in each ofsaid end compartments.

EZRA REE-D LINDSAY.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 286,910 Cunningham et al. Oct. 16, 1883 820,592 McLinden May15, 1906 1,139,134 Miller May 11, 1915 1,278,789 Thompson Sept. 10, 19181,409,701 Giles Mar. 14, 1922 1,453,816 Welpley May 1, 1923 1,578,077Courney Mar. 23, 1926 1,644,049 Young Oct. 4,, 1927 1,932,384 Alton Oct.24, 1933 2,444,488 Aschemeier July 6, 1948

